East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) brings the popular monthly LGBT QOTA party to the Singing Fountain on Sunday, September 29, 2013, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. For September, the party moves outdoors for its first-ever pop-up event in Philadelphia’s new gayborhood. Chefs from restaurants around the Fountain will serve complimentary or discounted food and drink. Participating fooderies include locally and nationally recognized names such as Noord, Fond, Stateside, Belle Cakery, Izumi, Da Vinci Ristorante and Chiarella’s Ristorante. Metro Men’s will showcase their brand new store at East Passyunk and Tasker with complimentary beverages. Metro Men’s and Nicole Rae Styer will host a fashion show around the Singing Fountain at 4:00 PM. Streets immediately surrounding the Fountain will be closed for the outdoor party, including Passyunk at 11th and Tasker. The party is free and open to the community, ages 21 and older. All specials are first come, first served. Ten percent of proceeds from Fond and Stateside will be donated to ActionAIDS. In case of inclement weather, the party moves indoors to individual restaurants, bars and retail shops.

QOTA, short for Queers on the Avenue, is a monthly party that rotates to a new location each month along the East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District. The party was created to foster a sense of community in Philadelphia’s new gayborhood. EPABID is home to many LGBT owned businesses including Noord, Metro Men’s, Black N Brew, Chartreuse and Aversa PR & Events. Stogie Joes is a regular sponsor of the City of Brotherly Love Softball Team and hosts year-round LGBT block parties. Many other businesses along EPABID regularly host other LGBT events during the year. Most recently, EPABID was home to the Phreak N Queer Art Crawl.

For next month, QOTA makes a first time appearance at recently opened GARAGE on Tuesday, October 15, 2013. November’s QOTA event is the largest of the year, with cocktails and dining among the holiday trees inside Urban Jungle. Date for December is to be announced. For more information, visit QOTA on Facebook, follow @epassyunkave #qota on Twitter, or visit www.visiteastpassyunk.com (events tab).